Common Core State StandardL.CCS.1/2/3/4 Grades 6-12: Video of a current news event is presented for discussion to encourage student participation, but also inspire the use of evidence to support logical claims using the main ideas of the video. Students must analyze background information provided about a current event, draw out the main ideas and key details, and review different opinions on the issue. Then, students should present their own claims using facts and analysis for support.

News Video for: 08/12/2019

Recent Mass Shootings Prompt U.S. Travel Advisories

After the recent mass shootings, the list of countries and entities issuing U.S. travel warnings keeps growing, and it includes a number of U.S. allies. Japan, Ireland, Canada, Italy, Germany and the U.K. are among the countries that have issued U.S. travel advisories. They warned that the United States is a “gun society” and that there is “an increased risk of politically motivated violence" here. Venezuela and Uruguay also warned there could be a high potential of being confronted with racism and discrimination in the U.S.

Class discussion: Do you think tourists should be careful about visiting the United States? Do Hispanic visitors face discrimination here? How many Mexican tourists were killed in the El Paso attack? Why are there so many mass murders in the United States compared with Europe, Canada or Japan? Does having more guns per person than any other nation make the U.S. safer or more dangerous? President Donald Trump threatened undefined retaliation against nations that issued travel warnings. What could he do? What should he do? Were those nations unfair?